Ingredient dictionary

Levulinic Acid

Levulinic Acid is a small, sugar-derived acid that helps keep a formula's pH steady and softens skin. It is on the label of 3 products in our library. Checked against our library November 6, 2026.

The catch: none for most people; check the full product list if your skin reacts easily.

What Levulinic Acid does

Helps keep the formula's pH steady
Conditions skin for a smooth feel
Adds a light, non-greasy texture

Levulinic acid is made from plant material, such as corn or wood, using a process that breaks the plant sugars down with acid. The result is a small, simple molecule that is well understood and widely used in industry.

In skin care and makeup, formulators reach for it mainly to help hold a product's pH steady. Its salt, sodium levulinate, is also used as a humectant, a gentle ingredient that helps skin hold on to water. It dissolves easily in water and leaves a light, non-greasy feel.

Good for

Suits anyone looking for a gentle, everyday conditioning ingredient in a water-based skin care formula.

Be careful if

Nothing in particular for most skin types.

Frequently asked questions

Is levulinic acid safe for skin?

Levulinic acid is used in cosmetics at small levels and is generally well tolerated. As with any acid, people with very sensitive or irritated skin may notice a tingle. If that happens, patch test first and stop using the product if discomfort continues.

Is levulinic acid the same as sodium levulinate?

No. Levulinic acid is the acid form. Sodium levulinate is its salt, made by combining the acid with sodium. The salt is used more for its humectant feel, while the acid mainly helps keep pH steady.